Line composing machine



Oct. 29, 1935. w. ACKERMAN 2,019,168

LINE COMPOSING MACHIN E Filed June '7, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l \iuwz M J A TTORNE V 82 z 84 Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LINE COMPOSING MACHINE of New York Application June 7, 1934, Serial No. 729,417

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to typographical machines of the general class shown and described in U. S. Letters Patent No. 436,532 granted September 16, 1890 to O. Mergenthaler wherein circulating matrices and spacebands are released from storage magazines and composed in line in an assembling elevator under the influence of a rotating star wheel, the line transferred from the assembling elevator and presented to the face of a slotted mold, the mold filled with molten metal to form a type line or slug and the matrices and spacebands thereafter returned through distributing mechanism to the magazines from whence they started.

The spacebands and matrices as they are released from the storage magazines are delivered onto the star wheel which forces them one after another and in the order of their release, into the assembling elevator, the spacebands passing downwardly through a chute which delivers them onto the star wheel in a vertical position and the matrices passing downwardly through a chute onto a constantly driven belt which delivers them onto the star wheel in an inclined position.

As is well known, the matrices most commonly employed in these machines are of the two-letter variety, that is to say, matrices bearing on their casting edges two superposed characters, the upper usually being a Roman character and the lower usually being an italic character. To permit the matrices to be composed at different levels to bring either the upper or lower character into casting position as desired, the assembling elevator is provided with a pair of lower fixed rails and with an upper movable or auxiliary rail, the matrices being assembled on the fixed rails when it is desired to locate the upper character in casting position, and on the auxiliary rail when it is desired to locate the lower character in casting position.

To straighten the matrices into a vertical position as they are forced into the assembling elevator the star wheel is so positioned with respect to the position of the elevator during line assembly that its axis of rotation is approximately mid-way between the two assembling levels. This arrangement, however, is limited in its effectiveness since it frequently happens that the matrices are not straightened into the desired vertical position and as a result the proper assembly of the line is prevented.

The general object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide such machines with means for establishing such a relationship between the position of the assembling elevator and the position of the star wheel as to insure that the matrices are straightened into avertical positionwhen they are assembled on either the lower fixed rails or on the upper auxiliary rail.

In accordance with the present invention, this and other objects are attained by equipping such machines with means which permits the relationship between the position of the assembling elevator during line assembly and the axis of rotation of the star wheel to be varied. More specifically, such machines are equipped with means which permits the relationship between, the position of the assembling elevator and the axis of rotation of the star wheel to be varied prior to line assembly and with means which permits this relationship to be again varied during line .assembly a distance equal to the distance between the superposed characters on the casting edges of the matrices. Under such conditions, the relationship between the position of the assembling elevator and the axis of rotation of the star wheel may be varied prior to line assembly until the relationship between one of the assembling levels in the elevator and the axis of rotation of the star wheel is such that the matrices are straightened into a vertical position when assembled at this level. Then during line assembly when it is desired to assemble the matrices at the other level, the relationship between the position of the assembling elevator and the axis of rotation of the starwheel is again varied a distance equal to the distance between the superposed characters so that the relationship between the assembling levels of the matrices and the axis of rotation of the star wheel is the same when the matrices are assembled at either level.

For a clearer understanding of the present invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, however, the invention is shown merely in preferred form and by way of example, but obviously many changes and variations maybe made therein and in its mode of operation which will still be comprised Within its spirit. It is, therefore, tobe understood that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment except in so far as such limitations are specified in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front View of a portion of a typographical machine embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view partially in section and with portions broken away, the View being taken along line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view, partially in section, showing the matrices supported on the lower fixed rails, the view being taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a similar side view, partially in section, showing the matrices supported on the upper auxiliary movable rail; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view, in section, of the lower end of the assembling elevator, the view being taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

When assembling a line the matrices l0 and so delivered onto a rapidly rotating star wheel l4 one after another and in the order of their release, the matrices passing downwardly through a channel raceway [5 onto a constantly moving inclined belt l6 which delivers them through a chute l'l onto the star wheel in an inclinedposition and the spacebands passing directly downward through a chute I 8 which delivers them onto the star wheel in a vertical position. The matrices and spacebands thus delivered onto the star wheel are forced thereby into the assembling elevator l9 against an upstanding finger 20 carried by an assembler slide 2! to assemble a type line. As the line is being assembled the finger 29 and the assembler slide 2| are forced to the left against the action of the usual assembler slide retractive spring (not shown) over a supporting roller 22 mounted on a shaft 23 carried by the main frame of the machine. After a line has been assembled, the assembling elevator I 9 is manually elevated to position the line between a pair of depending fingers 24 and 25 carried by a line delivery slide 26 which thereafter forwards the line to the casting mechanism (not shown) all as is well known in the art.

While the assembling elevator I9 is being raised to position the lines between the depending fingers the return movement of the assembler slide 2| under the influence of the usual assembler slide retractive spring (not shown) is prevented, as usual, by two drag shoes 99 and 9| carried by the lower end of a lever 92 which is pivotally secured to the assembler frame, the drag shoes being maintained in gripping engagement with the assembler slide by means of a spring 93, one end of which is secured to the extreme lower end of the shoe carrying lever 92 and the other end of which is connected to the main frame of the machine. The release of the assembler slide 2| from the gripping action of the shoes and 9i after the assembled line has been positioned between the depending fingers 24 and 25 is accomplished, as usual, by means of a rocker arm 94 which is pivotally secured, as by a stud 95, to the assembler frame. One end of the rocker arm extends into the path of a toe 96 carried by the lower end of the assembling elevator i9 and the other end of the arm extends over an adjusting screw 91 carried by the horizontal arm of a bell crank lever 98 which is pivotally secured as by a stud 99 to the assembler frame and the vertical arm of which is maintained in contact with the lower end of the shoe carrying lever 92 due tothe tendency that the horizontal arm has of rotating the lever about its pivotal connection. As the assembling elevator is raised to position the line between the depending fingers 24 and 25, the toe 96 carried by the lower end thereof engages the rocker arm 94 and rotates it about its pivotal connection in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. As the rocker arm 94 is rotated in a clockwise direction the bell crank lever 98 is rotated about its pivotal connection in a counter clockwise direction, thereby forcing the upper end of the vertical arm of the bell crank lever against the lower end of the shoe carrying lever 92 to free the assembler slide from the gripping action of the shoes 99 and 9|. When the assembling elevator I9 is lowered, a toe I99 carried by the upper end thereof engages the end of the rocker arm 94 and rotates it counter clockwise, thus elevating the other end to permit the spring 93 to force the drag shoes 90 and 9| into gripping engagement with the assembler slide 2|.

The matrices I9 are formed, as usual, with upper projecting lugs 21 and with lower projecting lugs 28 for supporting the matrices in the ele- 5 vator and with two superposed characters 29 and 39, the distance between the lower edges of the characters being indicated by V in Fig. 3.

- The star wheel Hi as shown more clearly in Fig. 2, is mounted, as usual, on a shaft 3| jour- 10 naled in the walls of the assembly frame, the shaft being provided with a gear 32 through which power is supplied to rapidly rotate the star wheel.

The assembling elevator I9 is slidably mount- 15 ed between a pair of gibs 33 and 34 which are secured to the main frame of the machine and it comprises generally the usual front and .rear walls 35 and 36 respectively and a hinged gate 31 which constitutes a part of the front wall and go which may be rocked forwardly when desired to permit access to the assembled line. To permit either the upper or the lower characters of the individual matrices to be assembled in a line, the assembling elevator I9 is provided with a pair 25 of fixed horizontal rails 38 and 39 upon which the matrices are supported when it is desired to locate upper characters in casting position and with a movable auxiliary rail 40 upon which the matrices are supported when it is desired to lo- 30 cate lower characters in casting position, the auxiliary rail being positioned above the fixed rails a distance equal to the distance between the lower ends of the superposed characters on the casting edges of the matrices. The auxiliary 35 rail is slidably mounted in the front wall of the elevator and, as shown more fully in Fig. 2, is divided into two sections M and 42, section 4| being a short section positioned at the receiving end of the elevator and section 42 being a rela- 40 tively long section positioned adjacent the short section so as to form a continuation thereof. The short section 4 I is adapted when in its forward or inoperative position to permit the matrices It] as they are forced into the assembling 45 elevator l9 by the star wheel I4 to descend under the influence of gravity until the ears 28 on the lower end of the matrices rest on the lower fixed rails 38 and 39 to locate upper characters in casting position and when in its rear or opera- 60, tive position to engage the outer car on the lower end of the matrices to locate lower characters in casting position. The relatively long section 42 is adapted when in its rear or operative position to support those matrices arrested by the 55 short section as they are forced off the short section during line assembly. The outer edge of the short section is provided with a lip 43 which overlaps the outer edge of the relatively long section to insure that when the short section is 60 moved inwardly to its operative position the relatively long section is also moved inwardly to its operative position so as to be in position to receive the matrices as they are forced off the short section, as well as to permit the short sec- 05 tion to be independently pulled forwardly to its inoperative position to allow matrices to descend onto the lower fixed rails to locate upper characters in casting position to form a mixed line.

To permit the relatively long section 42 of the 70 auxiliary rail to be independently moved inwardly and outwardly through the front wall of the elevator IS, the opposite ends thereof are pivotally connected to the upper ends of a pair of levers 44 and 45. The lower ends of the 7.

a es-ares levers- 44 and 45 are provided with hubs 46- and 41 respectively which are fixedly mountedon a shaft 48 journaled inbearings 49, 49a, and- 50 carried by the front wall of the elevator, the shaft 48 being provided with a finger lever 5I' bymeans of which it may be rotated to give movement to the relatively long section.

The improved equipment is intended to insure the proper assembly of the matrices II) at either level in the assembling elevator I9 and to this end means are provided for adjusting the position of rest of the assembling elevator-prior to line assembly until the relationship between the assembling level of the matrices I Ii in the assembling elevator I9 and the axis of rotation of the star wheel I4 is such that the matrices are straightened into a vertical position when they are assembled on the low-er fixed rails 38 and 39 and for automatically changing the position of rest of the assembling elevator during line assembly a distance equal to the distance between the superposed characters when the matricesa-re assembled on the auxiliary rail 49' so that the relationship between the assembling level of the matrices I9 and the axis of rotation of the'star wheel I4 as shown by the dotted line A-A in Figs. 3 and 4 is the same when the matrices are assembled at either level.

To permit the relationship between the position of rest of the assembling elevator I9 to be adjusted with respect to the axis of rotation of the star wheel I4 prior to line assembly, the support on which the assembling elevator rests during line assembly is adjustably secured to the machine and to permit this relationship to be again varied during line assembly means are provided for adjusting the position of the elevator on the support.

In accordance with the present invention the elevator I9 during line assembly instead ofbeing supported in front of the star wheel I4 by means of the toe I00 resting on the end of the rocker arm 94 which heretofore banked against a stop carried by the main frame of the machine, is supported by a rocker arm 52, the upper end of the arm being provided with a hub 53 rotatably mounted on the shaft 48 and the lower end of the arm being provided with a roller 54' which rests in either an upper recess 55 or in alower recess 56 in the face of a supporting cam 51, the cam being secured as by studs 58 and 59 to a plate 60 which, in turn, is secured as by screws 6! and 62 to the main frame of the machine. To permit the position of the supporting cam 51 to be adjusted with respect tothe axis of rotation of the star wheel I4, the open- :2ngs63 and 64 through which the studs 58 and 59 pass are elongated and to prevent displacement of the cam after the desired adjustment has been made the contacting faces of the cam 5! and the plate 60 are provided with serrations 65-. The vertical distance between the upper recess 55 and the lower recess 56 is such that when the roller 54 is displaced from one to the other, the position of the elevator I9 is raised or lowered a distance equal to the distance betweenthe lower edges-of the superposed characters on the casting edges of the matrices and to permit the rocker arm 52 to be rotated about the shaft to change the roller from one recess to the other, the rocker" arm is provided with a knob 66.

Inasmuch as the assembling elevator I 9 is supported at different levels in front of the star wheel I4, the shape or form of the rocker arm 94; as shown'inFig. 1", is such as. to insure the properoperation of: the parts in the manner statect irrespective of thelevel atwhich the assembling elevator I9 is supported by the cam-51".

The. means for. moving the short section-41 of" the auxiliary-railinwardly and outwardly through the. front wall of the elevator I9 is, in the pres ent. embodiment. of the invention, coupled tothe means for changing the position of the roller-54 from. one recess to the other so that when the short; section: is. moved' into or outof operative position the relationship'of the position of the elevator I95 with respect r to the axisof rotationof;.the. star. wheel I4 is automatically changed a distance equal. to the distance between the-lower ends: of the superposed characters. The means formoving. the short section 4| into and out of operative position comprises an offset lever 6T- whichforms a part of the rocker arm 52 and which is provided with a hub 68 rotatably mountedon a shaft 69 'journ'aled in bearings I0 and-II carried by the mainframe of the machine and the upper end of'which is flexibly connectedto theshort section 4 l.

Priorto lineassembly the position of the cam 51- isadjusted so that when theroller 54 rests in. the upper recess 55' the relationship between the. position of the elevator I9 and the axis of rotatlOII. of the star wheel I-4--is=-such that the matrices IOare straightened into a vertical position when they are assembled on the lower fixed rails 38'. and*39.. When his desired to locate uppercharacters ?9 in: casting position the machine is. in the position shown in Fig. 3, that is, both sections of the auxiliary rail are in their inoperativeposition. Under suchconditions, when the matrices II] are forced into the assembling elevator I9 by the star wheel I4 they drop by gravity until the'ears.;28. on the lower end of the matrices rest onthe fixedrai1s 38 and39and as they drop'they are straightened into a vertical position by the starwheel. Then. when it is desired to locate the lower characters 30 in casting position the knob 66 on the lower'end of the rocker arm 52' is pulled outwardly, thereby disengaging theroller 54-from the upper recess 55 and forcing the short section 4| of the auxiliary rail backwardly to its operative position. As explained heretofore when the short section Moi the auxiliary rail is forced; backwardly to its operative position the relatively long section 42 is also forced backwardly-so as to be in position to receivethe matrices as they are forced off this short section duringa mixed line assembly. When the roller becomes disengaged'ifrom the upper recess 55 it shdesdownwardly, under the influence of grav- 1ty,,,along the inclined face of the cam until it is engaged" by'the lower recess 58 and as a result the assembling elevator I9 and hence the. as.- sembling level of the matrices I I] is lowered a distance equal to the distance between the lower ends of the superposed characters; Undersuch conditions, the relationship between the assembling level of the matrices I0 as shown in Fig. 4 and theaxisof rotation of the star wheel I4 is-the same when the matrices are assembled onthe auxiliary rail 40 to locate lower characters in asting position as it is when the matrices are assembled on the lower fixed rails 38 and 39--to locate upper characters in casting posi tion.

wh the spacebands II are forced into the assembling elevator I9 they drop under the influence of gravity until the ears I5 carried by combination of an assembling elevator having the sleeve portion of the spacebands rest .on the upper surface of the rear and front walls 35 and 36 of the assembling elevator l9 and the spaceband buffer groove 76 in the wedge portion of the spacebands straddles the spaceband buffer 11. As the assembling elevator I 9 is lowered to locate the assembling level of the matrices the spacebands are lowered accordingly and in further accordance with the present invention means are provided for lowering the buffer 1! a like distance to prevent the expansion of the spacebands in the assembling elevator and to this end the spaceband buffer ll instead of being pivotally secured to one end of the main frame of the machine, is pivotally secured as by a stud 18 to the upper outer end of an offset slide plate 19, the slide plate being slidaloly engaged by the plate 60 and provided with an offset bracket 80 which maintains the buiier in a horizontal posi- -tion. The lower end of the slide plate 19 is provided with a bracket 8| which carries an adjusting screw 82 positioned in the path of the elevator 19 and with a stud 83 which extends downwardly from the lower face thereof through an opening in a bracket 84 which is secured as by a stud 85 to the main frame of the machine. When the assembling elevator I9 is lowered to locate the assembling level of the matrices with respect to the axis of rotation of the star wheel l4, it engages the adjusting screw 82 thereby forcing the slide plate 19 and the spaceband buiier Tl carried thereby downwardly against the action of a spring 86 positioned about the stud 83, a distance equal to the distance that the assembling elevator is lowered. When the assembling elevator is raised the spring 86 forces the slide plate 19 and the spaceband bufier 71 back to their initial positions.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of an assembling elevator having means for supporting matrices at different levels therein, means for delivering matrices onto said matrix supporting means to form a type line and means for automatically varying the relationship between the position of said elevator and the position of said matrix delivering means while said line is beng formed.

2. In a typographical composing machine, the

-ing the relationship of the position of said elevator with respect to the position of said matrix delivering means while said line is being formed.

3. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of an assembling elevator having fixed means for supporting matrices at one level and movable means for supporting matrices at a different level, means for delivering matrices into said elevator and means responsive to the movement of said movable means for varying the .relationship between the position of said elevator and the position of said matrix delivering means.

4. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of an assembling elevator, having fixed means for supporting matrices at one level and movable means for supporting matrices at 9.

difierent level, means for delivering matrices into said elevator and'means responsive to the movement of said movable means for varying the relationship between the position of said elevator and the position of said matrix delivering means a distance equal to the distance between said levels.

5. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of an assembling elevator having fixed rails for supporting matrices at one level 10 and a movable auxiliary rail for supporting matrices at a different level, means for delivering matrices into said elevator and means responsive to the movement of said auxiliary rail for automatically varying the relationship between the position of said elevator and the p0sition of said matrix delivering means.

6. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of an assembling elevator having fixed rails for supporting matrices at one level and a movable auxiliary rail comprising a relatively long section and a relatively short section for supporting matrices at a different level, means for delivering matrices into said elevator and means responsive to the movement of said short section for varying the relationship between the position of said elevator and the position of said matrix delivering means.

7. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of an assembling elevator adapted 80 to support the sleeve portion of spacebands and having fixed means for supporting matrices at one level and movable means Ior supporting matrices at a different level, means for delivering matrices and spacebands intosaid elevator, a spaceband buffer for supporting the wedge portion of spacebands and means responsive to the movement of said movable means for varying the relationship between the position of said matrix delivering means and the positions of said elevator and said spaceband buffer.

8. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of an assembling elevator adapted to support the sleeve portion of spacebands and having fixed means for supporting matrices at one level and movable means for supporting matrices at a different level, means for delivering matrices and spacebands in succession and in the order of their release from their storage magazines into said elevator, a spaceband buffer for supporting the wedge portion of spacebands, means responsive to the movement 01' said movable means for varying the position of said elevator with respect to the position of said matrix delivering means a distance equal to the distance between said levels and means responsive to the movement of said elevator for varying the position of said spaceband bufier a like distance.

9. In a typographical machine adapted to compose a mixed line from matrices having superposed characters, an assembling elevator, means for delivering said matrices into said elevator, means associated with said elevator for so supporting said matrices as to bring a desired character into casting position during line assembly and means responsive to said last men tioned means for maintaining a desired relationship between said matrix delivery means and said elevator during line assembly. 7

0 WILLIAM ACKERMAN. 

